Malta’s Court of Criminal Appeal has ruled to proceed with the trial of the El Hiblu 3, rejecting the defence’s jurisdiction plea. The case centres on three young men—aged 15, 16, and 19 at the time—accused of “acts of terrorism” after they acted as mediators on board the cargo ship El Hiblu in 2019.
The teenagers, from Ivory Coast and Guinea, had fled Libya with 108 others in an overcrowded rubber boat. When their vessel began to deflate, they were rescued by the El Hiblu. However, the ship’s captain attempted to return them to Libya, violating international law that obliges rescued individuals to be taken to safety.
Amnesty International condemned the court’s decision, calling it a “missed opportunity” to end the years-long ordeal. Elisa De Pieri, Amnesty’s Regional Researcher, said, “Malta’s misuse of the criminal justice system to deter migrants is unacceptable.” She criticised the six-year delay in bringing the case to court and highlighted violations, including detaining the teenagers in adult facilities and prosecuting them in adult courts.
The organisation has repeatedly called for the charges to be dropped, stating that the El Hiblu 3 acted to protect the rescued migrants from being unlawfully returned to Libya. Amnesty stressed that the trial reflects broader failures in EU migration policies, particularly in the central Mediterranean.
Malta’s decision has drawn international scrutiny, with human rights advocates urging an end to what they describe as a “travesty of justice.” The trial is set to continue in Malta’s criminal court.
